王阳明“克己”意涵之省察

Inspection of Wang Yangming’s Meaning of “Self-Denial”

自孔子提出“克己复礼为仁”以及“仁”之方后,后世儒者对此多有探讨,王阳明便是承袭了朱熹对“克己”意涵的诠释,训“克”为“胜”,解“己”为“身之私欲”,言“克己”为“克去己私”。但值得注意的是,阳明讲“克己”时常言及“为己”与“成己”,阳明说须有为己之心,才能克己;能克己,方能成己。“克己”是主体“为己之心”的自然涌动,而“成己”则是通过“克己”功夫对“真己”的复归。“克己”克的是“私己”之己,“为己”“成己”之己则是“真己”,故此“克己”便是要在“为己”的驱动之下,克除种种遮蔽“真己”之私欲,完成与万物一体的“真己”的回归。

Since Confucius put forward the concept of “restraining oneself and returning to propriety is benevolence” and the concept of “benevolence”, later generations of Confucian scholars have discussed this. Wang Yangming inherited Zhu Xi’s interpretation of the meaning of “self-denial”, saying that “self-denial” is “victory”, understanding “oneself” is “personal desire”, and saying “restraining oneself” is “eliminating one’s own selfishness”. However, it is worth noting that Yangming often talks about “self-denial” and “for oneself” and “to become oneself”. Yangming said that “one must have a heart of self-denial in order to be self-denial;one can become self-denial in order to be self-denial.” “Self-denial” is the natural surge of the subject’s “heart for oneself”, while “self accomplishment” is the return of “true self” through “self-denial”. “Self-denial” curbs the “self”, while “self-denial” and “self accomplishment” curbs the “true self”. Therefore, “self-denial” is driven by “self-denial” to eliminate all kinds of selfish desires that cover the “true self” and complete the return of “true self” that integrates with all things.